I wonder what Mack is brewing today
All I can do is lick the pot
He builds me up higher, my embers, they-
Are smiling cause they know they're hot
I stare at the red sofa he's sitting upon
And at the cat I've burned once or twice
What can I say? The thing knows its wrong
To sit by a fire with ice
I taste a small dripping of soup from above
My flames hiss in the deepest content
With my dancing shadows, I warm as a glove
As I wait for a new log's descent

FRUITY VOICE
Her voice reminds me of laughter barely suppressed
An energetic spirit tugging constantly at the rope
A caterpillar turning to butterfly at any moment
Her voice sounds like lifegiving fruit
Not serious, self-important fruit like geometrically precise pineapples
Or pompous, overfed watermelons
Too heavy to lift
Not business fruit like apples, on duty keeping doctors away
Or bananas waiting to do their slippery work under feet
Or blackberries, whose careers lie in jam
But mischievous fruit like grapes or cherries
Which roll away like playful children when you’re not looking
Or fallen raisins on the carpet pretending to be part of the pattern
Fun-loving fruit like mandarin oranges around the Christmas tree
Basking under the Christmas lights, enjoying the glitter
Of tinsel and the smell of pine needles
Small fruits which enjoy life,
Laughing as they jostle each other in their bag,
And which could easily become bubbly wine if tempted.
Her ripened voice -
The spontaneous fruit of a lifetime
Of growth and maturing, and regeneration :
Aliment for my soul’s ailment.

My Name Is December
Hello dear one,
I have been a long time coming, but believe me when I tell you, “It’s worth the wait”. I mean that 'I'm worth waiting for. More about that later; but my arrival is really out of my control, as I have to wait my turn.
I am one of twelve, each of which has a different life span with a certain amount of days. I know. You think that our time is so short compared to your own span of uncertainty. But we are okay with the way we are, and we never debate our destiny with our maker. We take each day as they come, and make the best of each one whether it’s bright or not.
By the way, you look familiar and remind me of someone else I’ve seen before. Have we met? O, pardon me please. My name is December, and I must say that I’m not late, but I am the last. My name comes from the Latin word 'Decem' which means ‘ten’. I know that you are wondering why my name means ‘ten’ when I am presently the 12th month of the year. You must understand that I was the 10th month until my number was changed to the Gregorian Calendar from the Roman Calendar. Don’t you wish sometime that people would leave things the way they found them? Anyway, I still think that I am the most popular month of the year. More about that later.
I and all my siblings never cease to arrive each year at different times with various tasks. Some of us, 7 to be exact, live to be 31; 4 of us make it to 30; and for some reason, one of our brothers, February by name, lives to be 28; but occasionally, he gets stretched to 29. Please don’t ask me why, because I’m not that smart.
Did you know that I am the first month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere where I also have the shortest daylight hours of the year? And did you know that I am the first month of summer in the Southern Hemisphere where I also have the longest daylight hours of the year? I sure hope I got that right.
I don’t claim to be the most famous, though I really am. Please? Do not repeat that to my 11 siblings. I must say that perhaps more money is spent in my 31 day life span than any other month; more gifts are exchanged; lights are their brightest; more decorations are put up; and many people feel that a big fat guy name Santa Clause comes from the North Pole on Reindeers, bringing lots of toys to kids the world over. O, by the way, did I say that Christmas came in the month of December? And did I not tell you that l was worth the wait?
10232015 (Contest, "Screwed X11",Rob Carmack

Let's Play again to day
I reather stay and watch the gifts today
But you did that yesterday and im bored
thats my job and give someone something to talk about
How boring but your so Sparkly
Please dont play with my jewrly before you make another one crash to the floor
Again...
But their so shiney and they roll sometimes Lets bowl
No lets dont and stop biting my arms and hands
your so fun Can big back
You mean climb my back to sit on my head
Yes....
you just want to play with my hat
Maybe
I guess thats fine until everyone gets back just dont chew
i can be quuen her with you
Keep dreaming you just like me because im here eveyday until the cold go's away
Aw
I wonder how you act when im not here
No Change
Except no one can hear me
But me
Good for me
and me
Hey cat than
Hey cat thanks for playing with me
No one should feel lonely on christmas exsapaically a tree

CHRISTMAS is coming
It’s on its way,
Good things were riding,
On SANTA'S sleigh,
Happiness was loaded,
In a drunken dispute,
Cops pulled him over,
His limit was full,
Grounded and jailed,
Compounding the sleigh,
ELVES told Santa
Postponing the day,
No! JINGLE BELLS,
What the hell
No! Ho, ho’s,
How can the grotto tell,
They won’t live it down,
TOYS have to get through,
No time to waste!
WINTERS FAIRYLAND in its fate,
CLAUS’ reputation was on the line,
Could they get to the SLED in time,
A breakout was staged,
Distraction arranged!
A reindeer stampede,
All agreed,
We’ll create a show,
Even FROSTY THE SNOWMAN,
Wanted to go,
They traveled along,
Cheery in song,
The world was a wait,
Lights all aglow,
TRIMMINGS were swinging,
But will they succeed,
And how will we know,
Wait for the Christmas
And then you’ll know.
27/11/2016
For contest sponsor
Eve Roper